DETROIT -- Delta Vacations executives are bullish about the
future.
Business is up by double digits. The vacation packager continues to
add hotels, apartments, destinations and experiences. And travel advisor interest appears to be at
record highs.
That was the takeaway from Delta Vacations University, the
company's sold-out forum for travel professionals interested in learning more
about Delta Vacations' products, partners and destinations.
More than 2,000 agents from 46 states attended the two-day
event in the Motor City over the weekend. The event offered 96 classes on
destinations and products, said Delta Vacations president Jennie Ho.
Forty-three percent of those attending, she said, were
first-timers, and the slots sold out in record time.
The event, also attended by 180 partners, showcased many of
the properties in 300 destinations that Delta Vacations now offers. Among the
newest: India, which will launch in December with packages to Mumbai and Delhi.
Hotel partners include Marriott, Hilton and Taj.
Next year, executives said they will focus on growing Africa
and Asia as well as secondary destinations in Europe, which has seen "huge,
huge growth," said Patricia Christensen, director of product.
"Our business has been growing overall in double
digits," said Ho.
The one downside has been the Dominican Republic, where Ho
said Delta Vacations, like other packagers, has seen double-digit declines
since headlines about tourist deaths this summer.
When the calls of concern started flooding in, Ho said the
company quickly implemented a waiver program to let travelers change their
plans.
"It was really interesting in terms of customers coming
back," Ho said. "Not only did we see customers come back, about 50%
rebooked immediately. ... Not only did customers rebook much quicker than
anticipated, when customers did come back and rebook they paid more. They gave
themselves a better experience."